#six grand slams in the big 3 era! two french opens during nadal’s career!

[realpersonfacts]

MEDIOCRE? WITH SIX GRAND SLAMS????

[techcrunchappcom]

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Sports news feed: Rafael Nadal wins French Open to equal Federer′s haul | Sports| German football and major international sports news | DW

Latest headlines

Nadal blows Djokovic away to win 20th tennis Grand Slam

Swiatek sweeps to historic win in women’s French Open

Tokyo marathon postponed

October 11

Rafael Nadal produced a vintage performance on Sunday to remain the king of the clay in Paris. The Spaniard’s flawless 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 win over Novak Djokovic brought him his 13th French Open title.

Perhaps more significantly though, Nadal’s win equalled Roger Federer’s record of 20 Grand Slam titles, the last of which the Swiss won at the 2018 Australian Open.

“Winning here means everything to me,” Nadal said on court straight after his win. “I don’t think today about equalling Roger’s record of 20 Grand Slams. For me, today is a Roland Garros victory. Roland Garros means everything to me… many of the important moments of my career have been here. The love story I have with this city and this court is unforgettable.”

The French Open usually starts in late May but was postponed until late September due to the coronavirus pandemic. And Nadal had some words of encouragement for the world’s fight against the virus.

“I want to send a message to all the people in the world,” Nadal said. “We are going through a tough moment with this virus, but everyone stay positive and we will beat it together.”

October 10

Poland’s Iga Swiatek has made history. The 19-year-old, who did not drop a set throughout the tournament, beat fourth seed Sofia Kenin 6-4 6-1 to win the 2020 French Open.

In doing so, the world number 54, became the first ever Grand Slam singles champion from Poland, the youngest French Open winner since 1992 and the ninth first-time champion in the past 14 Grand Slams.

October 9

The 2021 Tokyo Marathon has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

The race was to be held next March, but organizers said Friday that the race would now take place on October 17 instead, two months after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, another event which was pushed to July 2021 due to the pandemic. 

The organizers said they were “carefully reviewing plans that will adhere to the situation surrounding COVID-19,” and that they’ll do everything in their powers to “deliver a safe and secure event.”

Around 38,000 participants from around the world were to take part.

The Tokyo marathon has been postponed

October 8

Özil not named in Arsenal’s Europa League squad

Mesut Ozil’s ostracization at Arsenal went to a new level Thursday when he was left off the team’s Europa League squad list for this season.   

The 31-year-old Ozil hasn’t played for Arsenal since football started in June amid the coronavirus pandemic, leaving his future at the club in question. 

 Asked recently why Ozil _ one of the club’s highest-paid players, reportedly at more than $20 million a year, was out of favor, Arteta said: “The team is evolving, you can see the level they are achieving.” 

Mercedes team member tests positive for COVID-19

Formula One champions Mercedes reported on Thursday that a member of their team had tested positive for COVID-19 but a spokesman said drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas were clear.

“We can confirm that a team member has tested positive,” said a spokesman. “This has been handled and is being handled in line with FIA protocols, working closely with the FIA,” he added, without giving further details.

Six times world champion Hamilton leads Bottas in the championship by 44 points after 10 races.

Lack of fans factor in ‘crazy’ football results

Wolverhampton Wanderers captain Conor Coady believes the absence of crowds at stadiums is a major factor behind the surprising scorelines seen in the Premier League this season.

“Honestly, they are mad, the scorelines,” said Coady. “It’s a tough one to put your finger on, it really is. You look at it at the start of the season, some teams are ahead of others in terms of fitness, in terms of having a pre-season.

“The teams that have been in European competition obviously haven’t had that … so that might play a bit of a factor. I think fans play a big factor… I think we all want them back as soon as possible.”

Long-distance world records broken

Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei and Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey shattered the long-standing world records in the men’s 10,000 metres and women’s 5,000m in Valencia on Wednesday at an event dubbed ‘World Record Day’.

The 24-year-old Cheptegei ran a provisional 26 minutes 11.02 seconds in metronomic fashion to better the 26:17.53 minutes by Ethiopian legend Kenenisa Bekele from 2005. Gidey claimed the women’s 5,000m world record of her compatriot Tirunesh Dibaba by running 14:06.62 minutes.

October 7

Kvitova clinches semifinal berth at French Open

Petra Kvitova returned to the French Open semifinals for the first time in eight years on Wednesday after defeating Germany’s Laura Siegemund 6-3, 6-3, describing Roland Garros as her “lucky place.”

“It means a lot to be back in the semi-finals,” said 30-year-old Kvitova who was beaten by eventual champion Maria Sharapova when she made the same stage in 2012.

“After my last match, I was very emotional to be in the quarter-finals. Now I am in the semis. I never imagined this would happen after everything that has happened. This is my lucky place.”

Global Rapid Rugby cancels 2021 season 

The 2021 season for the franchise-based Global Rapid Rugby (GRR) competition has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, officials said on Wednesday.

The competition, backed by Australian billionaire Andrew Forrest, had suspended its inaugural season after one round due to the pandemic before cancelling it entirely in April.

German FA in tax evasion probe

The German Football Association (DFB) headquarters and the homes of DFB officials have been searched on suspicion of tax evasion, Frankfurt prosecutors say.

It said six former and current officials of the DFB were suspected of having intentionally falsely declared income from advertising inside soccer stadiums during certain matches in 2014 and 2015 as income from asset management, leading to an evasion of 4.7 million euros ($5.52 million) worth of taxes. 

To read more on the story click here. 

October 6

Sancho apologises for party

Still in hot water with club and country over his flouting of coronavirus protocols, Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho took to social media to issue an apology.

“I would like to apologise for breaking the government guidelines and although I was unaware upon arriving of the numbers attending, I take full responsibility for my actions. I will make sure that I learn from this,” the 20-year-old said in a statement on Instagram.

England have delayed the call-ups of Sancho, Ben Chilwell and Tammy Abraham, whose birthday they were celebrating.

World #131 into semis at French Open

Argentina’s Nadia Podoroska became the first qualifier in the Open era on Tuesday to make the women’s semi-finals at Roland Garros after stunning third seed Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-4.

World number 131 Podoroska had never won a Grand Slam main draw match before the tournament and is the first Argentine woman to reach the last four of a major since Paola Suarez in Paris in 2004. The 23-year-old Podoroska will play Polish teenager Iga Swiatek or Italian qualifier Martina Trevisan for a place in Saturday’s final.

Match-fixing probe at French Open

French police are investigating possible offences of organized fraud and sporting corruption linked to the French open, the Paris prosecutor’s office said on Tuesday.

The confirmation came a day after German newspaper Die Welt and French sports newspaper L’Equipe reported that police were looking into a first-round match in the women’s doubles competition. The reports said that one particular game in the match in question had aroused suspicions.

To read more on the story click here.

October 5

Jadon Sancho in hot water with Dortmund and England

Borussia Dortmund have announced that they are “in close contact with the English FA and the representatives of the national team,” following the publication of pictures showing Jadon Sancho at a party in London.

The winger was celebrating the birthday of Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham at an event that flouted the recent coronavirus restrictions put in place in England. Sancho missed BVB’s last two games due to “throat infection” and the club are reportedly decidedly unimpressed with the 20-year-old’s decision to attend. 

Meanwhile, there have also been calls for Sancho, Abraham and other England national team members in attendance to be dropped for the upcoming internationals.

Germany’s Siegemund reaches French Open quarterfinals

Germany’s world number 66 Laura Siegemund reached her first Grand Slam quarter-final on Monday, but garnered attention for more than just the result after ordering a plate of food to be delivered to her on court.

“I was trying to get some carbs in. I tried the bar. Couldn’t get it down really. I tried,” said Siegemund after her 7-5, 6-2 win over Badosa on Court Simonne-Mathieu. “I asked my physio to bring me something else. I just wanted to get some carb, some potato or rice.”

Energised by her food intake, she won 10 of the last 12 games to set up a quarter-final clash against seventh seed and two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.

Turkish Grand Prix will be without fans

Next month’s Turkish Grand Prix will be held without spectators because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Istanbul government said on Monday. Turkey has registered nearly 325,000 coronavirus infections and more than 8,400 deaths.

The race, the 14th of 17 in Formula One this season, will return to Istanbul after a nine year absence on November 15.    

Crazy scenes in Karting World Championships

A video that has to be seen to be believed. At the FIA Karting World Championship final at the Lonato circuit, Luca Corberi – whose family operate the venue – ended up throwing his bumper at a rival before ignoring marshals as he stormed off across the track after an incident knocked him out of the race.

October 4

Zverev out of French Open

Alexander Zverev was knocked out by 19-year-old Italian Jannik Sinner, playing his first Roland Garros, 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. Sinner’s reward is a quarterfinal against the king of clay, Rafa Nadal. Zverev meanwhile, says he wasn’t feeling well.

October 3

German qualifier serves up career best

Daniel Altmaier, ranked 186th in the world, beat seventh seed Matteo Berrettini in the French Open 6-2, 7-6, 6-4.

The 22-year-old was not even sure he would make his debut at Roland Garros as he was struggling with an injury and needed a go-ahead from a doctor at the last minute to take part in the qualifiers.

October 2

Bundesliga player tests positive for COVID-19

Wolfsburg’s Renato Steffen has tested positive for COVID-19, the club announced early on Friday evening. The Swiss, who is asymptomatic, has gone into quarantine at home and will miss Sunday’s game against Augsburg as well as the international fixtures next week. 

German sides handed Europa groups

After Wolfsburg fell in the qualifiers, Hoffenheim and Bayer Leverkusen were handed their Europa League draws on Friday.

In a tougher draw than they would have hoped for, Leverkusen, seeded in pot 1, will play Czech outfit Slavia Prague, Hapoel beer Sheva, of Israel, and French outfit Nice. 

Hoffenheim, seeded third,perhaps got away a little lighter. They will play Gent (Belgium), Crvena Zvezda (Serbia) and Slovan Liberec (Czech Republic). The full fixtures will be announced later on Friday. 

Löw names squad for triple header

After their Champions League exertions caused them to miss Germany’s previous matches, Bayern Munich quartet Joshua Kimmich, Manuel Neuer, Leon Goretzka and Serge Gnabry return to the fold.

But they, along with RB Leipzig pair Marcel Halstenberg and Lukas Klostermann, will only be available for the Nations League games with Ukraine (October 10) and Switzerland (October 13) and not the friendly with Turkey next Wednesday.

Three games in such a short space of time given the current packed schedule has led Löw to name 29 players in his squad. Fringe players like Nadiem Amiri, Robin Koch, Luca Waldschmidt, Florian Neuhaus and Niklas Stark will hope for opportunities while there are maiden callups for Borussia Dortmund’s Mahmoud Dahoud and Jonas Hofman, of Borussia Mönchengladbach.

October 1

US soccer team forfeits match over alleged homophobia 

San Diego Loyal players walked off the pitch in a second division game against Phoenix Rising after a homophobic comment was allegedly aimed at midfielder Collin Martin, who is openly gay.

San Diego, who are managed and owned by former US international Landon Donovan, had already forfeited a match against LA Galaxy’s reserves the previous week after midfielder Elijah Martin was the victim of alleged racist abuse.

“We went through a really hard incident last week in the LA match,” said Donovan, who also made a handful of Bundesliga appearances for Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich. “We made a vow to ourselves, to our community, to our players, to the club, to USL, that we would not stand for bigotry, homophobic slurs, things that don’t belong in our game.”

Despite leading 3-1 at half-time, San Diego thus forfeited a chance of reaching the playoffs. Opponents Phoenix Rising said the alleged perpetrator “vehemently denied” the allegations.

Bundesliga clubs criticize international matches

Ahead of next week’s international break, several Bundesliga club bosses have issued scathing criticism of FIFA and the German Football League (DFL) over the issue of sending their players on international duty in regions considered coronavirus risk areas, resulting in quarantine upon their return.

In September, for instance, Hertha Berlin striker Krzysztof Piatek had to quarantine for five days after playing for Poland in Bosnia, and missed Hertha’s German Cup defeat to Eintracht Braunschweig. At the time, FIFA had relaxed regulations obliging clubs to release players for internationals in regions considered COVID-19 hot-spots, but no such steps have been taken this time.

“We learned in September that we, the clubs, are left high and dry,” said Hertha boss Michael Preetz. “We release our players, we pay our players and, in the case of Krzysztof, we were left footing the bill. Ultimately, nobody was prepared to fight our corner. We realized that we can’t count on any help from the DFL or FIFA.”

“For me, it’s absurd to send players to risk areas,” added Augsburg’s Stefan Reuter. “It is FIFA’s responsibility either to postpone these matches or guarantee that players don’t need to quarantine when they return.”

Germany face Ukraine in the Nations League in Kiev on October 10, but local authorities in Germany have already stated that players will be exempt from quarantine regulations given the security and isolation measures in place in the Ukrainian capital.

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[dpinoycosmonaut]

A MONOPOLY OVER HEARTBREAKS?

by Bert A. Ramirez / September 8, 2018

               Rafael Nadal, defending champion in the US Open, is done without being able to defend his title the way he should, on the finals’ ultimate stage.  He again fell victim not exactly to the man opposite his side of the court but to a nagging, seemingly constant presence in his legendary career: injury.

               Nadal had just engaged Juan Martin del Potro, his semifinal rival, in a scorching first set, losing in the tiebreaker 7-3, but the next set saw him gradually losing that spunk and fortitude that’s been his trademark, eventually offering less and less resistance as Del Potro continued to slam his patended big forehands.  It was clear Nadal’s movement was limited at this point, and that something was wrong with the man known the world over as the toughest competitor in the sport, probably in any sport for that matter.  True enough, after the second set won by Del Potro 6-2, Nadal shook his head and went to the umpire to tell him he’s had enough, the pain in his right knee too searing for him to offer any resistance worthy of a champion that he is.

               "That was not a tennis match at the end.  Just one player playing, the other staying on one side of the court," Nadal said afterwards.  "I hate to retire, but staying one more set out there, playing like this, would be too much for me."

               He was in tears in the postgame conference when asked if playing on hard courts made it harder for his knees, which have a history of tendinitis over the years.  He knew that another heartbreak has come to pass, another opportunity has been wasted. Earlier in the third round, that right knee began to act up when he defeated Karen Khachanov, getting it taped before completing a four-set victory.  His five-set classic win against Dominic Thiem in the quarterfinals, which lasted four hours. 49 minutes, must have surely taken its toll on that knee of his.

               The retirement betrays a pattern in Nadal’s career that has seen him deprived of what could have been at least a very good chance at victory if injury did not rear its ugly head time and again.  Just last January, Nadal was gliding through the Australian Open when he suddenly pulled up lame with a hip injury and retired in the fifth set of his quarterfinal match against Marin Cilic.  In the same event in 2014, he looked all-too-powerful in eliminating old rival Roger Federer in the semifinals before suffering a back injury in the finals and losing to Stanislas Wawrinka, against whom he was 12-0 to that point, in four sets.

               That’s three Grand Slam events lost by retirement, and many more Grand Slams missed or pulled out from through the years because of injury: 2004 French Open due to stress fracture in his left ankle, 2006 Australian Open (foot injury), 2009 Wimbledon (knee injury), 2010 Australian Open (pulled out in the quarterfinals because of a knee injury), 2012 US Open (tendinitis in knee), 2013 Australian Open (stomach virus), 2014 US Open (wrist injury), 2016 French Open (withdrew from the third round due to a left wrist injury), and 2016 Wimbledon (left wrist injury).

               And how about the other ATP Tour events that he also missed due to such injury episodes?  In 2009, he had to take a two-month sabbatical because of tendinitis in both knees.  In 2013, he was sidelined for seven months for a left knee injury that he opted to rest rather than subject to surgery.  Again, in 2014, Rafa had to miss much of the second half of the season because of a right wrist injury and appendicitis, for which he had to undergo an appendectomy.  In 2016, he again suffered through a left wrist injury he sustained in the Madrid Open, and in 2017, Rafa ended the year prematurely with him in pain because of a right knee injury.

               While injuries are, of course, part of any athlete’s career, Nadal seems to have had more share of the injuries – and a seeming monopoly of the ensuing heartbreaks – than any of his contemporaries, or tennis great from any era for that matter.

               Rob Soria of Vavel, an international sports newspaper, precisely pointed to that when he wrote in 2014, “Following the completion of the 2014 US Open, Nadal will have either been hurt during or completely missed out on six different majors since 2009, which have unquestionably been his prime years on tour.  Suggesting that the former No. 1 player in the world could have grabbed an extra two or three of those titles would not have been a stretch in the least and to be quite honest, it would have probably been a pretty safe bet.

               “At the end of the day, none of us can say with any sort of certainty how many more titles Rafael Nadal would have won had he been healthier during his time on the ATP Tour.  While it may ultimately be nothing more than a guessing game, the one thing tennis fans everywhere can agree on is injuries have robbed us of the opportunity of watching one of the finest players to ever grace a tennis court  from doing what he does best on far too many occasions and that my friends is almost criminal.”

               What’s ahead of Rafa now that injury has reared its ugly head again, and deprived him of a possible 18th Grand Slam title?  His retirement against Del Potro was only his fourth loss in 49 matches this year, but it was the second by retirement in a Grand Slam event due to injury.

               Rafa, who turned 32 last June 3, insists he has to constantly manage his body, stressing that the current injury is not one that will need much recovery from, just careful management.  “Just about do treatment,” he said when asked about the recovery process. “It is not an injury that tells you, ‘three weeks off, you are back.  Six months off you are back.’  I know what I have to do to be better as soon as possible.  I am sure it will not be six months off of course, I was just making a comparison.  I know what is going on with the knee.  But the good thing is I know how I have to work to be better as soon as possible because we have a lot of experience on that.”

               Whatever happens, one can expect that Nadal will go about this the way he always has – all out.  One, however, can only wonder how much of the heartbreaks this seemingly indomitable creature can further take.  We know he can endure physically, and will “punish” himself, as he himself puts it, in order to play the game he loves.  As my own wife, however, puts it, there’s got to be a point where Rafa has to pause and think: After having achieved all this legendary status, is it worth to keep sacrificing yourself, and the opportunity to start your own family, the Spaniard having declared he won’t start a family unless he can devote his full time to it away from tennis?

               “I will keep going.  That is all,” Nadal simply said when asked about his plans.  “These moments are tough but I have to keep going and working hard to get more opportunities.  I am having two great years so I just have to enjoy the moments.  This year has been fantastic until this moment.  I am playing the right way and enjoying things.  I am having success at the age of 32.  A lot of people in this room, including me, didn't think I would be at this level at this age.  I still have a passion for the game so I will keep fighting and working hard.”

               That, it seems, gives one a glimpse of the Rafa Nadal spirit and mindset, if he has not finally gotten it yet.

(Photo from EPA)

[spintrebuchet-blog]

Wimbledon is here.

 An emerald swale exists in London where dukes would play in the past, and immortals dominate it in the present. I bring you – Wimbledon. This is the holy grail of tennis.

(Center court with the roof closed. That’s Nigel, by the way. My espionage sensei. He used to work in the Mi6. Great guy. Although, he cheats at canasta).

There is a whiff of sentimentality and wistfulness to this place. As a staunch romantic, I am averse to both, but here...I make an exception. Let me prove it to you. In 1880, it started as the ‘Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club’. Over the passing years, croquet lost fashion (unsurprisingly) and its name was omitted from the front billboard. This did not last long as nostalgia kicked in and brought back the word.

I’ve been to the Center Court many times. It is especially beautiful after the rain. Water droplets bring out a sparkle from the grass. The burst of zest is overpowering and all one has to do is just surrender to them. Astronomers say that the Earth was once bathed in stardust, but I wonder if this place got a little more than others. Everything about Wimbledon is just right. . There is not a single sponsorship label to be seen. No pump-up music. Not one cheerleader. And, the result? Dogmatic commitment from players that churn out matches that are both gritty and sublime.

Plus, how good these strawberries and cream look? 

Wimbledon use to have a pigeon problem until 2002. Then MTB, sent in one of my colleagues - Rufus. 

Now. It is time for me to address the Big 4. 

Andy Murray - the Dreadnought of Dunblane - (Slam Count: 3. Rank: #1). 

Yeah, it’s been that kind of year for Murray. He came as the top seed at the Australian Open, for the first time in his entire career. Everyone expected him to storm his way to the finals. Instead, he lost to a crafty Misha Zverev in the fourth round. 

Murray...what happened, man? Just overnight, you lost your mojo. Last year, by this point, you had reached two slam finals and were coming into Wimbledon as the second favorite, to Djokovic. 

Recently, McEnroe commented that you were “a distant fourth” among the others of the Big 4. This is your chance to prove him wrong. Wimbledon is the starry diamond of all the jewels of the ATP treasure trove.

Remember this: you’re number one. You have got the ranking and the seeding. Sure, the rhythm hasn’t been great from the last six months. But, keep in mind, how many more years do you see ahead? You’re already 30. This might be the last time you’ll have the number one seeding at Wimbledon. Winning this title would put ahead of Wawrinka, in the slam count, and rightfully so.  

I am reminded of a passage from Paradise Lost. 

“In dubious Battel on the Plains of Heav’n, And shook his throne. What though the field be lost?  All is not lost; the unconquerable Will; And study of revenge, immortal hate,  And courage never to submit or yield: And what is else not to be overcome?”

When looking at Murray’s most recent highlights, notably from his semi-finals in Paris, against Stan Wawrinka - where he was up two sets to one, you just notice the sense that he is playing too passively. 

There is a Scottish saying which I wonder has gone to Murray’s heart:

��"Whit's fur ye'll no go past ye”. This basically means, ‘What will happen, will happen”. 

Andy, you need to drill that cynicism out of your cranium. I want to see Andy play with the same fervency, that he used to. I am talking about Braveheart times Nessie. I want to see that same demented perfectionist blast scorching aces down the tee. Remember, the same weapon that you destroyed Federer with, back in the finals of the Olympics back in 2012.

Nevertheless, Murray, I shall leave you be and wish you luck with a saying from your Native Scotland - Long may your chimney smoke. 

(Oh, and when you do get on a roll, and steam your way through the first week, which I’m sure you will; after demolishing your opponents, quote the great Demoman, “Oh, they’re going to have to glue you back together...in Hell!”. 

Novak Djokovic - the Djoker - (Slam Count: 12. Rank - #4). 

Nole has been rusty all season. He looked decent in Madrid, but losing in the finals of a Masters 1000 to a rookie, shows that he hasn’t gotten his clutch gene back. 

(Doesn’t Eastbourne sound like a cool name for a spy? Oh, just give it a though. M summons Bond into her office and says, “007, allow me to introduce your new partner. Meet Eastbourne”.). 

Anyways, back to tennis. Playing at Eastbourne would have meant that he would not have any rest before Wimbledon, unlike his rivals who had time to recharge their batteries. But, Nole’s main concern is rhythm. It reminds of me a Smithsonian documentary that I once watched. A cheetah, living in the sandy dunes of Namibia, was at risk of starvation. Just to keep it’s heart pumping, it chased down a measly rat and ate it. Eastbourne is a tiny tournament, with a mere 250 ranking points on offer, yet his decision to play there shows us that the Serb is still hungry. 

Roger Federer - the Maestro - (Slam Count: 18. Rank - #5). 

One wonders what Roger did during his six month sabbatical. Did his team make him drink daily smoothies made out of rare healing fruit, slabbed with ice from the Swiss Alps? Whatever they did, it has certainly worked wonders. He has returned – rejuvenated and motivated as ever.

Don’t forget - he is 35.

At this age, players have usually retired. If they are itching to compete then they do so on the senior tour.

But, Federer remains a true freak of nature. Watching him sweep past twenty year olds, one wonders how many years he has in the tank.

This year already, he has won the Australian Open, completed the Sunshine double with crowns from Miami and California, and remains odds makers second favorite to win here.

There is Sherlock Holmes line that I am reminded of when I watched Federer play his second round match yesterday.

“A man is no happier than doing what he does best”.

Federer’s back on grass. He’s in his element. A crocodile in saltwater. The entire grass court season is three weeks. And, perhaps because of that, only the best of the best have taken home the golden trophy. (That isn’t a figure of speech. The Wimbledon trophy is actually golden).

The famed Carthaginian general – Hannibal, once proclaimed, “God has given to man no sharper spur to victory than contempt of death”.

When you look at the veterans from the Big 4, compared to the youngsters like Tomic who recently said he felt bored – at Wimbledon, you can’t help but think that they greater motivation, the closer they reach to the end.

Agassi recently said that Federer could possibly play for another five years. That would make him forty. Never done before in the Open Era. But, I have come to learn that with the Maestro, you never make the error of betting against him.

Numerous champions across the years had publicly expressed their belief that he would retire soon. From, Borg, to McEnroe, to Wilander. They all expressed their love for the champion but also conceded that father-time remained undefeated.

What I love the most about Federer is that he is an expert tactician. One who is never shy to re-examine and be adaptable. This psychological agility saw him snap up Stefan Edberg as his coach in 2014, who encouraged him to employ the vintage technique of serve and volley into his game. This, combined with a new, larger racquet, saw him return to the finals of Wimbledon, where he waged an epic five-set battle against Djokovic, which he narrowly lost, and improved his ranking from sixth to second.

In 2015, he parted ways with Edberg and brought in Ivan Lbijucic – a veteran player (albeit slamless), to bring a gutsy, streetfighter mentality into his game. He made it two grand slam finals and saw him dominate the North American hard court season with a technique called the SABR. (An acronym for ‘Sneak Attack By Roger’).

Roger’s main goal, ever since 2014, has been to win another Wimbledon. It reminds me of when Hannibal’s generals told him that it was suicide to cross the Alps. 

His response was, ““I will either find a way, or make one”.

Rafael Nadal - El Matador - (Slam Count: 15. Rank - #2). 

Chop. Chop. Boom! 

That was the sound of Nadal dellvering a supermax masterclass in Roland Garros to win his tenth title. I thought Stan played as well as he could, for a mere mortal. But, Nadal at the French Open is a force of nature. It’s as if he has metaphysical allies. The rules of gravity and magnetism bent towards his favor and helped him rout out his veteran opponent. Such was the toll of the match, Stan lost in the very first round at Wimbledon. 

He lost in the fourth round to Dennis Muller. A disappointing result, especially given that he came back from two sets down to level the match. It’ll hurt him for a while, especially given that this might have been his last best chance to win Wimbledon. But, this should fuel his fire for the US Open and finish this year as number one. 

All white uniforms and nothing but brilliance to blight out the competition. For glory! Onward!  

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Latest story from https://movietvtechgeeks.com/novak-djokovic-roger-federer-facing-wimbledon-fears/

Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer on facing Wimbledon fears

No matter how big or great you get in any sport, your mind can become your greatest enemy. Just ask Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. Both fall into the pantheon of greatest tennis players in history, but they've both been dealt severe setbacks in their careers.  With Wimbledon coming on Monday, both players deal with overcoming those fears on the court. When Novak Djokovic walked into Wimbledon a year ago, he possessed all four Grand Slam trophies. On Tuesday, he'll return empty-handed. A third-round defeat to Sam Querrey last year at the All England Club was the stunning start of a prolonged slump, a slump which Djokovic hopes he is finally on the way to ending after winning his second title of the year in Eastbourne on Saturday. Djokovic won the Eastbourne International beating Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-4 in the final, his first title since Janaury and his third in a year. "It's been a while now that I have been trying to find my best game and kind of consistency," Djokovic said. "It hasn't been the case for me in the last 12 months to win many big tournaments. "In order to, in a way, reach the next peak, you need to have a little drop, because, you know, that's how life kind of circulates around, as waves going up and down." His philosophical ponderings have become more familiar than the grit and intensity that saw him win six of the eight major titles available over a two-year period beginning at 2014 Wimbledon. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal appeared to have been pushed to the brink of retirement, and Andy Murray to despair, having so often been Djokovic's prey in finals. Yet, the other three members of the Big Four, plus Stan Wawrinka, have each added a Grand Slam title in the past year, while Djokovic has been trying to work out what's gone wrong. To that end, he jettisoned coach Boris Becker in December, and long-time members of his support team in May. Another "super coach" in Andre Agassi was hired just before the French Open, where Djokovic faltered in the quarterfinals. He's since added former world No. 7 Mario Ancic to his team. Neither was in Eastbourne, but Agassi followed Djokovic's progress closely on television, and will meet up with him in London on Sunday. "He (Agassi) has noticed that my game has kind of raised the level and quality of tennis, is going in the right direction every match, and the competitive spirit and fighting spirit was there," Djokovic said. "I have been in the game long enough to know what I need to do. Playing at Wimbledon and playing at any other tournament, as a matter of fact, gives me a lot of joy, and I think that's the key." The three-time Wimbledon winner opens his account this as the second seed, against Martin Klizan of Slovakia. Write off Roger Federer at your own peril. The guy's been considered done by some folks at various times over the years, whether because of age or a bad back or a bum knee or a - gasp! - 4½-season drought without a Grand Slam title. And yet here he is, about to turn 36 next month, about to tie a record by playing in his 70th major tournament and, lo and behold, back to his old status as a popular pick to take home the title when Wimbledon begins on Monday. He is seeking an unprecedented eighth men's championship at the All England Club. "A player like Roger, as long as he's playing, you know, he's going to have a chance to win a Grand Slam. The day he will stop playing, that's when he will have no chance to win," said Stan Wawrinka, a three-time major champion who has played much of his career in his Swiss countryman's considerable shadow. "We all know as players, we all see on the court, we all see when we practice against him," said Wawrinka, who is friends with Federer and has teamed with him to win a Davis Cup title and an Olympic gold in doubles. "For sure, he had some years (that were) a little bit down - with some injury, with some tough results for him. That's part of a long career." The lasting image of Federer at Wimbledon a year ago was of him face-down on the Centre Court turf during the fifth set of a semifinal loss, betrayed by a surgically repaired left knee. Also tough to forget: The consecutive double-faults in the last game of the fourth set. He seemed more vulnerable than the tennis world had seen him in more than a decade. "The fall just really scared me," Federer said Saturday, fingers clasped as he leaned forward. Afterward, he recalled, he consulted with several doctors. Federer figured he would need a month off, maybe two. He was told that at least four months off was the proper way to heal. That meant no Olympics, no U.S. Open, no matches at all for the rest of 2016. All he's done since coming back this year is go 24-2 with four titles, including a record-extending 18th at a Grand Slam tournament by erasing a fifth-set deficit to beat Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open final in January. That was Federer's first major championship since Wimbledon in 2012, when he was a mere 30 years old. Some more time off would come during this season: Federer skipped the clay-court circuit, including the French Open, despite being healthy. "I was ready to play in Paris," he said. "I just didn't feel ready to go yet." Federer wanted, he explained, to give himself the best chance to succeed on his best surfaces, grass and hard courts. "We all felt the same way, that it's better to save myself and give it all I have for the rest of the season - not just the grass-court season, but looking beyond that, too, all the way to the American summer, staying on a 'fast-court tennis' sort of mindset," he said. Leaning back in his chair with arms crossed, he said of missing the French Open: "I kind of never regretted it, even though it hurt." He tuned up for Wimbledon by winning a grass-court tournament in Halle, Germany. In the final, he walloped one of the game's up-and-coming talents - Alexander Zverev, someone 15 years his junior - as if to prove that the kids can wait their turn. Tennis' old guard is still in charge of the sport. Federer, 31-year-old Nadal, and Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, both 30, are the top four seeds at Wimbledon. They've combined to win the past 14 titles at the All England Club. "It's very even, when we put it all out on the line," Federer said about the so-called Big 4. This is Federer's 19th appearance at Wimbledon, two shy of Jimmy Connors' record in the Open era. Federer enters with 84 match wins, equal with Connors for the most. There are concessions to time, Federer acknowledges. He tried to get through practice Saturday as quickly as possible - "short and sweet, just to get it done" - and then planned to take Sunday off before the grind begins. The philosophy is the same during matches. An attacking style to shorten points, the occasional serve-and-volley, and the more powerful backhand he displayed in Australia against Nadal all can help save energy. "I don't want to be at the mercy of my opponent. I want to take charge, play aggressive myself," Federer said. "So for that, I need to be fast on my feet and quick in my mind. I just need enough rest so I can play enough inspired tennis."

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The Latest on the French Open (all times local):

———

6:50 p.m.

Big-hitting Milos Raonic beat Rogerio Dutra Silva of Brazil to advance to the third round of the French Open.

The fifth-seeded Canadian hit 25 aces on his way to a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 victory, with four coming in his final love service game.

The decisive moment came in the ninth game of the fourth set. Dutra Silva saved six break points but Raonic broke on his seventh to leave him serving for the set.

———

6 p.m.

Still grieving the recent death of his father, 25th-seeded American Steve Johnson dropped to his knees and began crying at the end of his 6-2, 7-6 (8), 3-6, 7-6 (6) victory over Borna Coric at the French Open.

Johnson was overcome by emotion during a Tennis Channel TV interview right after the second-round match, wiping away tears as his voice choked on his words.

“I just miss my dad, you know? I wish he was following along. I know he is, from upstairs,” Johnson said. “Just so emotional. It’s hard to describe. I just know he was looking down on me on that last point. And gave me the strength to finish it off.”

Steve Johnson Sr., a tennis coach in California, passed away about three weeks ago.

———

5:50 p.m.

Rafael Nadal was all smiles after defeating Robin Haase 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 on the same court where he won nine French Open titles.

“I’m very happy to come back on the Court Philippe Chatrier,” said Nadal, who had 33 winners.

The fourth-seeded Nadal is trying to become the first player in the Open era to win 10 titles at a major. Last year, he withdrew from the tournament ahead of his third-round match because of a wrist injury.

“It was really hard for me last year,” Nadal said. “I’m very happy to be back on this court, which is probably the most important in my career.”

———

4:55 p.m.

Caroline Wozniacki advanced to the third round of the French Open by beating Francoise Abanda of Canada 6-0, 6-0.

The 11th-seeded Dane will next face American teenager CiCi Bellis.

———

4:10 p.m.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic advanced to the third round of the French Open by beating Joao Sousa 6-1, 6-4, 6-3.

The second-seeded Serb will next face Diego Schwartzman.

———

3:40 p.m.

American teenager CiCi Bellis reached the third round of the French Open in her tournament debut, upsetting 18th-seeded Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands 6-3, 7-6 (5).

The 18-year-old Bellis converted her fourth match point on an unforced error by Bertens, a semifinalist at Roland Garros a year ago.

Bellis, who is from California, is playing in her third career Grand Slam tournament. She made it to the third round of the U.S. Open in 2016, and the second round there in 2014.

She is ranked 48th.

Two weeks ago, Bertens beat Bellis in straight sets on clay in Rome.

———

3:30 p.m.

Defending champion Garbine Muguruza held on to beat Anett Kontaveit and reach the third round of the French Open.

The Spaniard lost the opening set against the 53rd-ranked Kontaveit but won 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-2.

———

3:15 p.m.

Steve Johnson advanced to the third round of the French Open by beating Borna Coric 6-2, 7-6 (8), 3-6, 7-6 (6).

The 25th-seeded American, who has never been past the third round at Roland Garros, will next face sixth-seeded and Dominic Thiem.

———

2:55 p.m.

Defending champion Garbine Muguruza has forced a third set in her second-round match at the French Open.

After dropping the opening set against 53rd-ranked Anett Kontaveit 7-6 (4), Muguruza was down a break in the second before coming back to take it 6-4 on Court Philippe Chatrier.

———

2:15 p.m.

Defending French Open champion Garbine Muguruza has lost the first set of her second-round match against Anett Kontaveit.

Muguruza trailed 5-2 at the outset, fought back to force a tiebreaker, but dropped it 7-6 (4).

The fourth-seeded Muguruza is trying to avoid becoming the first reigning champion at Roland Garros to lose in the second round since 2014, when she upset Serena Williams at that stage.

The 53rd-ranked Kontaveit beat Muguruza the last time they played, in a clay-court tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, in April.

———

1:30 p.m.

Petra Kvitova’s first tournament since she was injured in a knife attack at her home is over.

The two-time Wimbledon champion, who was seeded 15th, lost to American qualifier Bethanie Mattek-Sands 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5) at the French Open. Kvitova threw her racket in frustration after she double-faulted on match point, but the players warmly embraced at the net.

Kvitova returned to tennis in Paris after she was attacked in the Czech Republic in December.

Mattek-Sands, a doubles champion at Roland Garros two years ago, received treatment at the end of the first set. She came back on court with a bandage on her left thigh but did not seem hampered in her moves.

Mattek-Sands, who is back in the third round for the first time since 2013, will next face Samantha Stosur.

———

1:05 p.m.

Back on Court Philippe Chatrier to resume his first-round match against Renzo Olivo, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga could not overturn the deficit at the French Open.

Their match was suspended because of darkness on Tuesday with the 12th-seeded Frenchman trailing 7-5, 6-4, 6-7 (6), 5-4.

Tsonga lost the first three points on his serve Wednesday but managed to save the three match points. Olivo converted the next one with a forehand crosscourt winner and to win 6-4.

Tsonga had never lost to a player ranked as low as No. 91 at a Grand Slam.

“I’m sorry for Tsonga. I got home at 1 a.m., it was difficult to sleep. I had a massage, it wasn’t easy,” Olivo said. “I slept for a few hours. It was difficult not to think about the restart. I took it one point at a time to stay calm. You have to focus on every point to beat a player like Tsonga.”

———

12:55 p.m.

Ekaterina Makarova, who upset top-seeded Angelique Kerber in the first round, could not follow up on her great performance and exited the French Open.

Playing against 42nd-ranked Lesia Tsurenko on the remote Court 16, Makarova lost 6-2, 6-2 after making 27 unforced errors and dropping her serve five times.

———

12:40 p.m.

Venus Williams got off to a sluggish start but quickly found her range to beat Kurumi Nara of Japan 6-3, 6-1 and reach the third round of the French Open.

The 10th-seeded Williams, a runner-up in Paris in 2002, trailed 3-1 in the opening set but then won seven consecutive games.

Williams is playing at Roland Garros for the 20th time, a record in the Open era.

“I love being here and I love playing on this court,” Williams said. “You never stop learning and that’s what I love about the game.”

———

12:20 p.m.

Serena Williams is at the French Open, after all — but as a spectator, not a competitor.

The owner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles is not playing for the rest of this season because she is pregnant.

Williams found a seat in the shade at Court Philippe Chatrier during her older sister Venus’ second-round match against Kurumi Nara on Wednesday.

Serena Williams’ baby is due in the fall. She has said she will return to the tour in 2018.

———

11 a.m.

Under bright sunshine, 10th-seeded Venus Williams will open play on Court Philippe Chatrier against Kurumi Nara of Japan in the second round of the French Open.

The first Wednesday at Roland Garros is traditionally known as kids’ day. Parisian boys and girls will get the chance to see some of the game biggest stars this year, with Rafael Nadal later scheduled to resume his quest for a 10th title in Paris against Robin Haase.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic is also on the bill, facing Joao Sousa on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

The locals will also keep a close eye on 13th-seeded Kristina Mladenovic, a Frenchwoman who dealt with back pain and deficits before winning in the first round. She next takes on 2012 runner-up Sara Errani.

———

More AP tennis coverage: http://ift.tt/2phrUN7

31 May 2017 | 5:07 pm

Source : ABC News

>>>Click Here To View Original Press Release>>>

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Top 10 Tennis Players Of All Time: Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer Or Pete Sampras The Greatest Men's Player

Rafael Nadal's incredible victory at the U.S. Open on Monday has led to many wondering whether the 27-year-old Spaniard can now go onto become the greatest player in history. Everyone will have their own view, but it seems a fitting time then in the midst of an amazing era of men’s tennis to reevaluate the 10 greatest players of all time.

1. Roger Federer

There can be no debate about who right now merits the title of the best ever. A record 17 Grand Slam titles - and checking - would be sufficient to present Federer's defense, however the Swiss ace is something other than trophies. At the point when the fixated club player goes to rest during the evening they long for just once having the capacity to play like Federer. To a far more noteworthy degree than any of his peers at the highest point of the amusement, it is anything but difficult to envision Federer exceeding expectations in a past period of wooden racquets when a tennis players' instrument was even more a wand than a limit instrument. An unfathomable record of, before Wimbledon this year, having come to 36 Grand Slam quarterfinals says a lot, for his managed brightness, as well as for the effortlessness with which he played and moved which empowered him to maintain a strategic distance from the wounds that affected a large portion of his opponents.

2. Rafael Nadal 

Eight French Open titles mean that the man from Mallorca can without hesitation claim to be the greatest clay-court player of all time, but he has become so much more than just the master of the terre battue. Throughout his career Nadal has displayed a relentless determination not only to fight for every point but to constantly improve himself as a player and become a winner on all surfaces. That fortitude is also responsible for his improbable recovery from a knee injury that had some observers already preparing his tennis eulogy just a year ago. Instead, he returned and enjoyed arguably his best year yet, culminating in taking his game to another level at the U.S. Open. Straining every sinew of his body for every point may prevent him from having the same longevity of success as Federer -- the man who in many ways is his stylistic opposite -- but it would be most unwise to bet against it.

3. Pete Sampras

With 14 Grand Slam titles to his name and 286 weeks positioned as the best player on the planet - second just to Federer - Sampras was a triumphant machine. His joint record seven Wimbledon titles say much for the nature of both his first serve and maybe more remarkably his second serve, both of which may well be the best ever. The Californian with a Greek foundation was a wonderful serve and volleyer in a period where that exciting system was as yet utilized. However, he could likewise curtail of the court, with a fine one-gave strike and an exciting running forehand. The main thump against his name was neglecting to get past the elimination rounds at Roland Garros.

4. Rod Laver

Had this rundown included accomplishments before the Open-period then it is likely that the "Rocket" will have been much higher on the rundown. Having won a date-book year Grand Slam in 1962, the Australian then put in six years as a pariah in the wake of settling on the choice to turn proficient, which made him ineligible to contend in the Grand Slams. At the point when the significant competitions ended up plainly open to all players, beginner and expert, Laver expeditiously won Wimbledon in 1968 preceding taking a decisive victory of Grand Slams the next year among an Open-period record 17 titles.

5. Bjorn Borg

Gathering 11 Grand Slam titles is an amazing accomplishment and that is before you consider the way that they were altogether accomplished by one day after Borg's 25th birthday. His retirement a little more than a year later in 1983 sent shockwaves through tennis as well as through the more extensive world where the Swede with the streaming light bolts had moved toward becoming an incredible big name. Borg was the iceman and constant baseliner to the searing, all-court session of his awesome opponent John McEnroe. All his Grand Slam wins came at the French Open and Wimbledon, with his accomplishment of having won both competitions consecutive for three sequential years maybe never to be coordinated. Given that he just played the Australian Open once, in a time where the top players regularly gave the long trek a miss, joined with his initial retirement, one can just envision what number of amazing pummels Borg could have won.

6. Andre Agassi 

The Las Vegas local started his vocation as the flashy wild man of tennis and finished it as the game's most regarded diplomat. In the middle of, Agassi amassed eight Grand Slam titles in a vocation that accomplished the most invigorating highs and pounding lows. One of the best returners ever, he had a remarkable deftness sharpened by hours of practice as a tyke under the tutelage of his strict father that empowered him to remain on the pattern and move his rival from side-to-side as though on a bit of string. Having made his leap forward and no more improbable setting of Wimbledon, Agassi slipped to 141 on the planet and clearly growing dim of the game because of individual issues in 1997. His recuperation was the thing of tall tales. Under two years after the fact he won the French Open to finish his profession Golden Grand Slam - he likewise won Olympic gold in 1992 - before coming back to No. 1 on the planet. Wonderfully fit, Agassi played on until industrious back agony in the end constrained his retirement at 36 years old.

7. Novak Djokovic

While those underneath him on this rundown have won more than his six Grand Slams, it is difficult to minimize the test that Djokovic has confronted in contending in the best time men's tennis has ever seen. That he has completed as the world No. 1 for as far back as two years is a mind boggling accomplishment given the nearness of Federer, Nadal and Andy Murray. For sure, the Serbian delighted in maybe the finest year in the game's history when he asserted 10 titles, incorporating three Grand Slams in 2011. With an arrival and two-gave underhanded among the best ever, Djokovic has demonstrated a compel on all surfaces. His edginess to finish the Career Grand Slam has seen his amusement plunge since neglecting to do as such at Roland Garros prior this year, yet it is difficult to envision that he won't soon have returned to his best and adding to his accumulation of Grand Slam titles.

8. John McEnroe

His legendary temper and accompanying catchphrase have become so widely known that they have almost overshadowed his actual on-court achievements. A quick look at his record of seven Grand Slam singles titles together with a further nine in doubles should correct that oversight. Although he came close to winning on the clay, losing a two-set lead to Ivan Lendl in the 1984 French Open final, McEnroe’s big lefty serve and ability at the net was made for the fast courts at Wimbledon and U.S. Open where he won all his Grand Slams in a dominant five year spell between 1979 and 1984. His legacy is enhanced by his incredible rivalry with Lendl, Jimmy Connors and most notably Borg, which resulted in one of the best finals ever at Wimbledon in 1980.

9. Ivan Lendl

His preferably sullen identity and his not as much as tremendous playing style have implied that that the Czechoslovakia-conceived Lendl has frequently been undervalued when tennis' most noteworthy are considered. While he was never one for talking, his achievements are more than equipped for doing it for him. Lendl was a virtual ever display at the last phases of Grand Slams all through the 1980s, winning eight Grand Slams in his exceptional 19 appearances in finals. Likewise, just Federer and Sampras have spent more weeks at No. 1. The now U.S. subject's comprehension of the diversion and the steely attitude required to win has been appeared in his pivoting the profession of Andy Murray.

10. Jimmy Connors

At 5-foot-10, Connors was littler than the main opponents of his period, however what he needed in stature he more than compensated for with his serious will to win and one of the best returns ever. The California local guaranteed five U.S. Open titles, and also two Wimbledon crowns together with a win on one of just two visits to the Australian Open. His pinnacle was in the mid-1970s when he burned through 159 straight weeks positioned at No. 1 on the planet, however key to his legacy is his life span. In fact, it can be contended that Connors' most noteworthy accomplishment was achieving the elimination rounds of the U.S. Open in 1991 at 39 years old.